To that end, the Lansing City Council received a
resolution placing the issue on the ballot at its Monday meeting.

But giving the city permission to sell the balance of the
golf course doesn't mean the city plans to sell all of it, said Randy Hannan,
chief of staff to Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.

"We anticipate that a significant portion will remain
public," he said.

A final count on how many acres the plan will use can't
be determined yet, he said.

The proposal itself, and the administration's plans, call
for a rigorous vetting process.

Hannan said he expected that the scope of the project
would be refined as the public and other stakeholders weighed in on the
specifics and adjustments were made.

Getting a blanket approval up front will speed the
process along and ensure the project can move forward as proposed.

That's the same approach the city took in securing permission
to sell the former Waverly golf course and adjacent Michigan Avenue park.

Early plans call for a range of rental homes, a student
housing complex, restaurants and other entertainment, hotels, a public amphitheater,
a baseball field and other amenities.

The total investment will likely top $100 million,
according to the proposal, and financing offers have already been received.

It's not yet clear how the expanded development will
impact plans to use the park portion of the property as a natural storm water filtration
system.

Environmental advocates backed the land sale largely due
to plans by Ingham County Drain Commissioner Patrick Lindemann to use the 48
acres of land the city still owns to create a new drainage system to clean
storm water and runoff coming from the Frandor shopping center.

Lindemann has said the drainage system, which would incorporate
natural filters and native plants, would improve the water quality of the
nearby Red Cedar River.

Hannan said the new plan would have to meet the
requirements of the drain commissioner's plan as well.

"We'll find out going forward if there's a way to
integrate the two," he said.

He stressed that Monday's announcement simply meant the
redevelopment process was moving forward, but did not bind the city or the
developer to the plan.

The Lansing City Council will discuss the proposal
Monday, Aug. 20 when it meets as the Committee of the Whole.

A final vote is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 27.

In order to make the Nov. 6 ballot, the council must
approve the resolution putting the issue on the ballot by Aug. 28.